OBS Chapter 175 The Forest Ghost
Chapter 175 The Forest Ghost
"No, quite the opposite. It's because it knows the opponent has expended a lot of energy that it's trying to challenge them."
As Li Xiangyang finished speaking, the two tigers drew closer and closer.
The tension in the air almost solidified.
The two tigers stood face to face, their tails twitching in the air, emitting low growls from their throats, each waiting for the other to make the first move.
This is a contest concerning territory and dignity.
Just then, the older tiger suddenly launched an attack.
It lunged at the young tiger's neck, its entire body drawing a graceful arc in the air.
The force of the attack was so great that it even stirred up the surrounding snow.
Although the young tiger nimbly dodged to the side, it simultaneously slashed at the opponent's side with its front paws.
The older tiger had anticipated this move. The moment it landed, it used the momentum to turn around, and its thick tail lashed heavily onto the younger tiger's hind leg.
A muffled "bang" was heard.
The young tiger stumbled and before it could regain its footing, the older tiger had already pounced on it.
Its iron-like front claws slammed down hard on the young tiger's back, the force so great that it knocked the young tiger to the ground.
The young tiger rolled on the ground several times, shook off the snow, and stood up again.
However, its movements were not as agile as before, and its right hind leg was noticeably less nimble.
The older tiger was not in a hurry to attack again, but instead slowly circled around the younger tiger, occasionally letting out a low roar.
This is depleting the opponent's physical strength and willpower.
Seeing that the young tiger was becoming increasingly weak, the older tiger finally launched a fatal attack.
It suddenly accelerated, its entire body lunging at its opponent like a cannonball.
The young tiger tried to dodge, but its injured hind leg slowed it down.
The older tiger's sharp claws gripped the younger tiger's nape, pinning it firmly to the ground.
Two tigers rolled around in the snow, staining the snow with specks of blood.
In the blink of an eye, the battle was over.
The older tiger stood high above the younger tiger, letting out a deafening roar that swept across the entire forest.
This is the victor's declaration.
The young tiger lay motionless on the ground, only letting out low whimpers to show its submission.
“It’s over,” Li Xiangyang said softly.
Sure enough, the older tiger slowly turned around and walked back the way it came.
Before leaving, it forcefully left claw marks on a large tree.
The deep scratch was more than two meters above the ground.
Having failed in his challenge, the young tiger walked up to the tree and made a mark on the trunk with his claws, but at a lower height than the older tiger's mark.
“It’s a sign of obedience,” Anna said excitedly, quickly taking notes of everything in front of her.
Li Xiangyang nodded: "Yes, they are much smarter than we imagined. When food is relatively plentiful, moderate compromise is actually more beneficial for the survival of the population."
Wang Ergou pondered, "Just like people, they know when to advance and when to retreat."
After the two tigers left, Li Xiangyang led Anna and Wang Ergou to inspect the battle site.
The snow on the ground was trampled into a mess, and some bloodstains could be seen, but none of them were fatal.
“They were all very restrained,” Li Xiangyang said. “If they had really fought desperately, the scene would have been far more horrific than this.”
Anna exclaimed while taking photos, "This is invaluable! We've completely documented the territorial division process of the Siberian tiger. This is extremely rare data globally."
Li Xiangyang looked up at the sky: "Let's go. We've had enough for today. After this fight, these two tigers have divided their territories, and they won't easily cross the line anymore."
Throughout the journey, Anna kept looking at the photos in her camera, her face filled with excitement.
Black Cat and Little Tiger led the way, while Night Shadow brought up the rear, its alert eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.
"Tired?" Back at camp, Li Xiangyang took out a water bottle and some dry rations from his backpack and gave them to Anna and Wang Ergou. "You've had a good day."
Wang Ergou rubbed his sore shoulders: "Yeah, seeing two tigers confront each other is a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
As soon as he finished speaking, the black cat suddenly pricked up its ears and locked its gaze on a patch of bushes at the edge of the camp.
Following the black cat's gaze, Li Xiangyang saw a series of tiny paw prints on the snow, extending into the bushes.
"We have guests."
He got up to check, and Nightshade and Little Tiger followed.
“A red squirrel.” Li Xiangyang crouched down, his fingers gently tracing the footprints in the snow. “Judging by how fresh these footprints are, it must be nearby.”
Sure enough, a slight noise came from above.
Looking up, they saw a bright red squirrel perched on a branch, warily observing them.
"What's it carrying in its mouth?" Wang Ergou asked in a low voice.
Li Xiangyang squinted and observed carefully: "They look like pine cones. They're all busy moving house this time of year."
"Moving?" Anna asked curiously, raising her camera.
“Yes,” Li Xiangyang nodded, “In winter they store their food under tree roots, but now that the weather is warming up, we need to move it to higher ground quickly. Otherwise, the snow will melt quickly, and the stored food will easily mold. And…”
Before he could finish speaking, another squirrel emerged from behind the tree.
Upon seeing that there were already guests in the tree hollow, it immediately let out a sharp cry.
Two squirrels chased each other among the branches, pine needles fluttering down.
In the end, the owner of the tree hole prevailed and drove the intruder away.
“Spring has arrived,” Li Xiangyang said softly. “Now it’s not just about food, but also about competing for breeding grounds.”
As night deepened, the sounds in the woods became even richer.
The sound of pecking wood, the rustling of the bushes, the distant call of an owl...
The group was used to this; with the arrival of spring, the animals in the mountains became increasingly active.
Just as the group was dozing off, a piercing scream suddenly shattered the night sky.
The sound was heart-wrenching and particularly eerie in the silent mountain forest.
Anna's body trembled violently, and the notebook in her hand fell to the ground with a "thud".
She instinctively grabbed Li Xiangyang's arm, her face pale.
"The ghost from the woods is coming," Wang Ergou said in a sinister voice, deliberately lowering his voice.
After saying that, he winked at Li Xiangyang.
Anna shuddered, her voice trembling, "What...what the hell?"
"Wang Ergou!" Li Xiangyang said in a deep voice, "Don't scare her on purpose, it's alright."
No sooner had Li Xiangyang finished speaking than another scream rang out, this time closer, filled with despair.
Then came the sound of flapping wings, followed by silence.
The sound was so terrifying that Anna practically clung to Li Xiangyang, which made Wang Ergou laugh uncontrollably.
"Um, Anna, don't be afraid. The so-called forest ghost is just the eerie scream that a hare makes when it's caught by a predator..."